title: Posttraumatic stress disorder: protective and risk factors in 18 survivors of a plane crash.
abstract: The aim of this study is to identify protective and risk factors related to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on a sample of survivors from a single plane crash. Eighteen survivors were examined 6 months following the event. The subjects all underwent psychiatric interviews, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale structured interviews, personality and cognitive tests. Only 38.9% of them presented with all of the symptoms of PTSD; 22.2% showed no symptoms for PTSD; remaining survivors exhibited emotional/affective symptoms related to the event. In addition to the severity of the traumatic event itself, other risk factors identified were the loss of a relative, the manifestation of depressive symptoms, and the severity of physical injuries sustained. Low levels of hostility and high levels of self-efficacy represented protective factors against developing PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Section of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catanesi
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Section of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Candelli
authors.affiliation: MEDICA SUD, via della Resistenza, 82, 70125, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troccoli
authors.affiliation: Section of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grattagliano
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo Di
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.affiliation: Section of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carabellese
mesh_terms: D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D010556:Personality Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology
keywords: air disaster; forensic science; posttraumatic stress disorder; protective factors; risk factors; survivors